Nigel Albuquerque

Mangaluru, Mar 2: The proposed and long overdue underground rain water drain and footpath work has been underway at snail’s pace beside the main Bejai concreted road from the ward corporator’s residence near the Bejai Museum to the Chevalier L C Pais Bridge near the KSRTC bus stand. The work is on the stretch up to the Bejai circle.

On the said stretch, three shops on the right side of a building named 'Victory' had encroached on the road when built in the past which was not inspected then by the MCC due to negligence.

When the earth was excavated for the underground rain water drain the RCC foundations of the said three shops were found to be in the way.

As per the MCC rules and regulations, the contractor had to demolish the encroachment. However, due to alleged lobby by vested interests in MCC ward 31 (Bejai), the contractor instead proceeded to cut the concreted road to make way for the underground rain water drain.

Unauthorised markings were drawn with a concrete cutting blade for further advanced cutting, as is seen in the pics.

This is exactly when RTI activist Ajoy D'Silva, a resident who has been the lone soldier on the ground for years, effectively nailed the violation of the said work estimate that did not provide for the cutting of the said concreted road, with the timely help of another resident Nigel Albuquerque.

RTI activist Ajoy D'Silva contacted the contractor Abbas and advised him to stick to the provisions of the work estimate and to stop the said road cutting with immediate effect, failing which he would be constrained to escalate the violation of the work estimate to the Karnataka State Lokayukta, Bengaluru which in turn would result in the contractor’s bill placed on hold till the case was resolved.

Ajoy D'Silva futher added, the MCC engineers were competent to find a way for the said underground rain water drain without violation of the work estimate by cutting the concreted road.

The contractor, fearing the payments due to him could be placed on hold till the case was resolved, complied immediately with RTI activist Ajoy D'Silva’s advise and pleaded with him not to escalate the violation of the work estimate further.

The main Bejai road was concreted in 2007 with specified provisions for the underground rain water drain and footpath atop.

Encroachment by the said three shops in the past due to MCC negligence and the current scheming to cut the concreted road and not demolish the encroachment exposes the vested interests lobby in Bejai ward that has for long been actively looting the taxpayers primarily due to the apathy of the residents of Bejai.

Making MCC ward 31 the Smart Ward of the MCC is a possibility when the ward’s residents want positive change.